St. Michael's teen is charged with second-degree murder

A St. Michael's man is charged with second-degree murder after police said he grabbed an Easton man around his neck before he died earlier this month.

Matthew Mikowski, 17, was indicted Tuesday, in the death of Samuel I. Cross, 18, whose body was found by state troopers near Bozman-Neavit Road and St. Michael's Road June 10. The two men were with a group that may have been using LSD, police said.

Witnesses told police Mikowski grabbed Cross around the neck, according to police, who believe Mikowski moved Cross' body and left it near the victim's Honda Pilot, where he was later found.

The medical examiner's officer ruled the death a homicide by asphyxiation.

Mikowski, of the 9000-block of Bozman-Neavit Road, is charged with second degree murder, reckless endangerment, second degree assault, and four counts of distribution of LSD. State court records have no information about whether he has a lawyer, and family members could not immediately be located.

He was arrested Wednesday by state police in Wernersville, Pennsylvania, and is being held at the Berks County Jail pending extradition proceedings.